Flame heated vaporizer

ABSTRACT

A flame heated vaporizer, the vaporizer utilizes a flame to controllably heat and liberate volatile chemicals contained within a vaporizable material without generating smoke and associated hazardous by-products. This improved flame heated vaporizer provides mechanical simplicity, quick speed of vaporization and ease of use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/120,631, filed Dec. 2, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The invention generally relates to the field of vaporizers. More specifically, the invention relates to a vaporizer utilizing a flame to controllably heat and liberate volatile chemicals contained within a vaporizable material without generating smoke and associated hazardous by-products.

BACKGROUND

Traditional smoking devices, such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, have existed for centuries. These devices are used to deliver flavored vapor from a smokable substance to a user for therapeutic and smoking pleasure. These traditional devices use combustion to burn the tobacco products. As a result, these traditional devices tend to produce toxic, tarry and carcinogenic by-products which are harmful and also impart a bitter and burnt taste to the mouth.

The primary disadvantage of such traditional methods of utilizing a smokable substance is that the user not only inhales the desired taste and beneficial volatile active ingredients, but also inhales the hazardous, combusted and un-combusted by-products. Some of these by-products are associated with cancer and diseases of the heart and lungs. Such hazardous by-products of combustion include carbon monoxide, benzo(a)pyrene, volatilized cadmium, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, and a spectrum of heavy hydrocarbons, which are either the direct result of combustion of organic material or are the result of the unnecessarily-high-temperature volatilization of ingredients in the unburned portion of the smokable substance immediately adjacent to the combustion zone.

A more healthy and better controlled approach to liberating desired volatile compounds from a smokable substance is to vaporize them at lower temperatures than that at which combustion occurs. In general this process eliminates the deleterious combustion products from the desirable gaseous ingredients. Devices which perform this task are generally called vaporizers. There have been numerous attempts to provide device structures for producing vapor that is free from harmful by-products.

Most modern vaporizers use heating systems with electronics and batteries that usually require recharging. Some modern vaporizers are even computerized. These modern vaporizers most often use liquid chemical cartridges. As such, many of these vaporizers are designed to only work with a liquid vaporizing material and therefore do not allow for a user to use their own conventional smokable substance. Some mechanical and electronic devices do exist that are capable of accepting standard smokable substance; however these devices are quite complex with a multitude of small moving parts that require cleaning and servicing and thus take away from the simple ease and pleasure that historically comes with conventional smoking.

While current devices on the market have solved some of the problems associated with providing a noncombustible and nonpyrolytic method for heating and inhaling the active volatile compounds without the ingestion of toxic and carcinogenic compounds, there still exists a need for a simple and easy method of doing this. The present invention aims to solve the above noted deficiencies of the prior systems by combining the simplicity of a flame with the familiarity of a pipe to liberate volatile components from a smokable substance without generating smoke and associated hazardous by-products.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for vaporizing into air volatile chemicals contained within a vaporizable material, the vaporizable material heated by a flame that does not make contact with the vaporizable material. The apparatus comprises a body. The body has a fire opening for accepting hot air. The body has an inhalation opening for drawing air through the body. The body has a vaporization chamber, the vaporization chamber is located between the fire opening and inhalation opening and configured to hold a vaporizable material. The body has a heat transfer passage separating the fire hole and vaporization chamber. The body has a respiratory passage separating the vaporization chamber and the inhalation opening. The apparatus operates such that when a flame is applied at the fire opening and air is sucked out of the inhalation opening, heated air created by the flame is drawn through the heat transfer passage into the vaporization chamber to vaporize the volatile chemicals and deliver those vaporized chemicals through the respiratory passage to exit the inhalation opening.

In another implementation, the present disclosure teaches a single piece smokeless pipe in the form of an elongated body that includes an inhalation opening at one end for a user to draw upon and pull air heated by a conventional butane lighter held with the flame over a fire opening in the body. The heated air passes through a heat transfer passage and into a vaporization chamber holding vaporizable material. The heated air is pulled through the vaporizable material to heat by convection heating. The user subsequently removes the flame source and continues to draw cool air into the vaporization chamber and through the vaporizable material so as to release vapor. The apparatus enables the user to inhale the aromatic ingredients of the vaporizable material without inhaling the hazardous by-products if the vaporizable material was to be combusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For the purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view showing use for one embodiment of the present invention, in this embodiment the user is inhaling vaporized volatile chemicals from a vaporizable material contained within the apparatus, the apparatus being heated by a non-contact flame;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment of heated air flow through the device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a top down view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 with the vaporization chamber cap in place;

FIG. 4b is a top down view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 with the vaporization chamber cap removed;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment for the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7a is a top down view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 with the vaporization chamber cap in place;

FIG. 7b is a top down view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 with the vaporization chamber cap removed;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9a is a perspective view of one embodiment of a retainer having a porous mesh that may be used in any of FIGS. 1-8 and 12 a-14;

FIG. 9b is a perspective view of another embodiment of a retainer having a solid base surrounded by side pores that may be used in any of FIGS. 1-8 and 12 a-14;

FIG. 10a is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a vaporization chamber cap that may be used with the apparatus shown in any of FIGS. 1-8 and 12 a-14, the cap being a magnet or magnetizeable material;

FIG. 10b is a bottom perspective view of the vaporization chamber cap of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 10c is a side view of the vaporization chamber cap of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11a is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a vaporization chamber cap that may be used with the apparatus shown in any of FIGS. 1-8 and 12 a-14, the cap having screwing threads;

FIG. 11b is a bottom perspective view of the vaporization chamber cap of FIG. 11a ;

FIG. 11c is a side view of the vaporization chamber cap of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 12a is an exploded, mixed-perspective view of an apparatus of FIG. 1 incorporating the cap of FIGS. 11a-c with the cap unscrewed;

FIG. 12b is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 12a with the cap attached;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a carburetor; and

FIG. 14 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with an outer shell and filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of this invention the term vaporizable material is intended to include any combustible material containing volatile ingredients which upon heating are vaporized and can be drawn into the mouth and respiratory passages of a user. Vaporizable materials may include dry leaf materials such as tobacco, cannabis, licorice, eucalyptus, teas, flower petals, and other herbs. Vaporizable materials may include composite and impregnated materials such as wicking materials saturate with a liquid. Vaporizable material may also include a liquid that can be added and held within a vaporizing chamber. Such vaporizable materials may be used alone or in various combinations with one another.

Apparatus 20 (a.k.a. vaporizer), FIG. 1, is for vaporizing into air volatile chemicals contained within a vaporizable material 22. Vaporizable material 22 is heated by flame 24 that does not contact the vaporizable material. In order for the flame heated vaporizing apparatus 20 to operate, the apparatus must meet several thermal operational characteristics. Generally the apparatus must contain a flame acceptance region, heat transmission region, vaporization region, cooling region and vapor delivery region, FIG. 2. The flame acceptance region must accept hot air 34 that is heated by flame 24. This hot air 34 must then be delivered through a heat transmission region to a vaporization chamber 40. During the process of hot air transmission, the flame must not be allowed to get into the vaporization region and combust the vaporizable material. However, enough hot air must get into the vaporization region to heat vaporization chamber 40 and vaporize the vaporizable material. Once volatile compounds have been liberated from the vaporizable material in the vaporization chamber, these compounds need to be cooled in a cooling region so they can enter the vapor delivery region at a temperature that will not burn the user's mouth. The following structure provides these necessary requirements of a flame heated vaporizer.

Apparatus 20 (20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d, 20 e), FIGS. 1-14, comprises body 30. Body 30 includes a fire opening 32 for accepting hot air 34. Body 30 includes an inhalation opening 36 for drawing air through the body. Body 30 includes a vaporization chamber 40. Vaporization chamber 40 is located between fire opening 32 and inhalation opening 36 and configured to hold vaporizable material 22. Body 30 has a heat transfer passage 42 (42 a, 42 b) separating fire opening 32 and vaporization chamber 40. Body 30 has a respiratory passage 44 separating vaporization chamber 40 and inhalation opening 36. Apparatus 20 operates such that when the flame 24 is applied at fire opening 32 and air is sucked out of inhalation opening 36 by a user 50, heated air 34 created by flame 24 is drawn through heat transfer passage 42 into vaporization chamber 40 to vaporize the volatile chemicals and deliver those vaporized chemicals through respiratory passage 44 to exit inhalation opening 36 and be delivered to user 50.

Body 30 may be made of any material capable of not being burnt by a flame or that does not decompose from temperatures up to 1100° C. Body 30 is preferably fabricated from an inorganic oxide. Inorganic oxides include, but are not limited to ceramics, glasses, stone, etc. These materials can be exposed to temperatures 400-1100° C. or above without combustion, melting or decomposition. Stone is desired because stone has the required thermal properties and also possesses natural beauty; however some stone materials can be difficult to machine. Soapstone is most preferred for the body material because soapstone is easily machined and also has superior thermal properties. Some of soapstone's properties are thermal conductivity 6.4 W/mK, specific heat capacity 0.98 J/gK, density 2.98 kg/m³, flexural strength along grain 16.8 MN/m², and flexural strength perpendicular to grain 15.7 MN/m². Soapstone does not burn or melt at wood burning temperatures. As a result of these properties, soap stone has the ability to absorb heat, hold heat and radiate heat slowly. These properties make soapstone the preferred material for body 30.

Fire opening 32 is provided in body 30 proximal to an end distal from user's mouth when apparatus 20 is being used. Fire opening 32 may be 1/16^(th) inch or larger in diameter. Fire opening may be fit with a fire hole insert 33, that is resistant to high temperature flame damage. Fire hole insert 33 may be made of a high melting temperature metal that does not oxidize easily. Fire hole insert 33 covers any chipping that may occur on the edge of fire opening 32 if the fire hole was created by machining and also limit future chipping of the edge of the fire hole during use.

Heat transfer passage 42 extends from fire opening 32 towards vaporization chamber 40 in the heat transfer region of apparatus 20. Vaporization chamber 40 has a vaporization chamber diameter and heat transfer passage 42 has a heat transfer passage diameter. The heat transfer passage diameter is always less than the vaporization chamber diameter. Heat transfer passage's purpose is to transfer hot air 34 heated by flame 24 to vaporization chamber 40. Heat transfer passage 42 may be straight. However, in one embodiment heat transfer passage 42 may include a downward passage 42 a and an upward passage 42 b. Heat transfer passage length is generally in the range of 1 to 1-¾ inches down and ¼ to ½ inches up for an overall length of 1.25 to 2.25 inches. This shape, diameter and length of heat transfer passage 42 has been found to stop any flame from entering vaporization chamber 40, yet provide adequate heated air that heats the vaporization chamber in the range of 135-220° C. to vaporize vaporizable material 22. Upward passage 42 b is angled to direct hot air 34 directly to the bottom of retainer 52 holding vaporizable material 22. Upward passage 42 b has a diameter of 1/16^(th) to ⅛^(th) inch in diameter. The diameter of the downward passage 42 a is generally ⅛^(th) or more. Upward passage generally has a smaller diameter than the downward passage. The smallest diameter of heat transfer passage 42 is what limits the rate at which heated air 34 may enter vaporization chamber 40.

Vaporization chamber 40 has a vaporization chamber opening 43 that is a separate opening from the heat transfer passage 42 and respiratory passage 44. Vaporization chamber 40 has a diameter generally in the range of ¼ to ½ inches and ½ to 1 inches deep. Vaporization chamber 40 is sized so that a temperature of 135-220° C. is achieved in a few seconds when drawing hot air 34 heated by flame 24 into the vaporization chamber through heat transfer passage 42. A recessed lip 35 is provided at the top of vaporization chamber 42 to hold retainer 52.

Retainer 52 is for holding vaporizable material 22. Retainer 52 includes flange 37 for supporting the retainer within vaporization chamber 42. In one embodiment, retainer 52 is a meshed retainer with perforations that allow hot air to permeate and heat vaporizable material 22, FIG. 9a . In another embodiment, retainer 52 has a bottom portion that is unmeshed to hold a liquid, FIG. 9 b.

Apparatus 20 further comprises a vaporization chamber cap 54 (54 a, 54 b) for covering vaporization chamber 40 during the heating/vaporization process. In one embodiment, FIGS. 2-8, vaporization chamber has a metallic washer 56 recessed slightly below the top surface of body 20 and surrounds vaporization chamber 42. In this embodiment, a magnetic cap 54 a is provided that fits over the top of vaporization chamber 42, FIGS. 10a -10 c. Similarly the washer 56 may be magnetic and the cap magnetic, or the washer magnetic and the cap metallic. In another embodiment, FIGS. 11a -12 b, a threaded cap is provided that screws onto vaporization chamber 40.

Inhalation passage 44 is for delivering vaporized volatile compounds to exit inhalation hole 36. Inhalation passage is generally greater than ⅛^(th) inch in diameter and greater than 1 inch long.

Apparatus 20, 20 d may further comprise a carburetor 58, FIG. 13, an additional opening to vaporization chamber 40 for allowing rapid introduction of air in to the vaporization chamber. The purpose of carburetor 62 is to allow the user to introduce additional air into the vaporization chamber 40 allowing for greater control of temperature and airflow within the vaporization chamber.

Apparatus 20, 20 e may be fabricated such that it includes body 20 with an addition outer shell 60, FIG. 14. Outer shell 60 is typically formed from a different material that provides a different aesthetic look, additional insulative properties, a more comfortable tactile feel and/or a protective outer covering. For example outer shell 60 may be made of wood, acrylic, glass, plastic, foam or other materials.

Apparatus 20, 20 e may further comprise a filter 64, FIG. 14, to prevent particulates from entering the user's airway.

Apparatus 20, 20 e may further include a detachable mouthpiece 66, FIG. 14, of a different material replacing part of respiratory passage 44.

While several embodiments of the invention, together with modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

What is claimed is: 1) An apparatus for vaporizing into air volatile chemicals contained within a vaporizable material, the vaporizable material heated by a flame that does not contact the vaporizable material; comprising: a) a body; b) a fire opening in the body for accepting hot air heated by the flame; c) an inhalation opening for drawing air through the body member; d) a vaporization chamber within the body, the vaporization chamber located between the fire opening and inhalation opening, the vaporization chamber for holding the vaporizable material; e) a heat transfer passage separating the fire opening and vaporization chamber; f) a respiratory passage separating the vaporization chamber and the inhalation opening; and g) whereby when the flame is applied at the fire opening and air sucked out of the inhalation opening, heated air created by the flame is drawn through the heat transfer passage into the vaporization chamber to vaporize the volatile chemicals and deliver those vaporized volatile chemicals through the respiratory passage to exit the inhalation opening. 2) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of an inorganic oxide. 3) The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the inorganic oxide material. 4) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the inorganic oxide material is stone. 5) The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the stone is soapstone. 6) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the vaporization chamber includes a retainer for holding vaporizable material. 7) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the retainer is a meshed retainer. 8) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the retainer has a bottom portion that is unmeshed to hold a liquid. 9) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the vaporization chamber has vaporization chamber opening to accept vaporizable material, wherein the vaporization chamber opening is an opening separate from the heat transfer passage and the respiratory passage. 10) The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the vaporization chamber opening is covered by a magnetically held vaporization chamber cap. 11) The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the vaporization chamber opening is covered by a mechanically held vaporization chamber cap. 12) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer passage is directed downward from the fire hole as a downward passage and then angle upward to the vaporization chamber as an upward passage. 13) The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein upward passage has a smaller diameter than the downward passage. 14) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the vaporization chamber has a vaporization chamber diameter and the heat transfer passage has a heat transfer passage diameter, wherein the heat transfer passage diameter is less than the vaporization chamber diameter. 15) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer passage has a diameter of 1/16 to ⅛^(th) inches. 16) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the respirator passage has a diameter 1/16 to ⅛^(th) inches. 17) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an outer shell of a different material. 18) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a filter. 19) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an attached mouthpiece of a different material replacing part of the reparatory passage. 20) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a carburetor. 21) The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the volatile chemicals are heated by convection heating and delivered at a lower temperature than in the vaporization chamber. 